NUS, CDL collaborate to study smart building technology

One laboratory studying a new haze filtration system will be inviting members of the public to stay a week in their test apartment and offer feedback on their experience.

SINGAPORE: Protecting your home from the haze is one of the areas that two new research laboratories at the National University of Singapore (NUS) will look into.

The S$2.2 million dollar collaboration by NUS and City Developments Limited (CDL) was announced earlier this week on Tuesday (Mar 22). It will study smart building technology specific to Singapore's tropical climate.

When completed at the end of 2017, one of the laboratories will test a new filtration system to monitor, control and filter out haze particles among other innovations. The research team will also be looking at the use of nano-technology to coat windows to prevent heat from entering homes, and an intelligent system to mask undesirable ambient noise.

Members of the public will be invited to stay at the apartment for up to a week to provide feedback on their experience. It will be located within a new building at the NUS School of Design and Environment.

Said Professor Lee Siew Eang of the Department of Building at the NUS School of Design and Environment: "Lots of the technology we develop are conceptual and scientific in nature. The engineer and the scientist will always think about the function and workings of the system.

"But really, the test of its effectiveness in the real world is people's response and how people use it and react to it. In a laboratory environment, we can never realise this part of the test, which is a very critical part of it."

News NUS CDL green house

Senior Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said the two laboratories increase test-bed opportunities and are crucial for the next leg of Singapore's green journey.

"The solutions you produce and test-bed in them can translate into tomorrow's smart green buildings,” he said. “For instance, these could be smart green home features, smart building materials or passive building systems."

The other laboratory is expected to be completed by end-2016 and will be located at the NUS Kent Ridge campus. It will look at how a building's facade, construction and operations can be tailored to suit Singapore's climate.

One aspect the team will look at is the efficiency of solar panels on roofs and walls. The team will test different systems, such as static solar panels and panels which track the sun, to find out which are more suitable for Singapore's climate.

"What are the barriers? What are the challenges? Is it the wind, insects or humidity that will affect the components?” said Professor Stephen Lau of the Department of Architecture at NUS School of Design and Environment. “This is one aspect we are not exactly sure of."

The initial phase of both test beds is five years. CDL said a progress report will be submitted to it every six months to ensure that the projects are on track.

PROPERTY LAUNCHES & INVESTMENTS

Property Launches & Investments

NUS, CDL collaborate to study smart building technology

One laboratory studying a new haze filtration system will be inviting members of the public to stay a week in their test apartment and offer feedback on their experience.

Comments

Leave your comment